Contents

Background and college

Born November 24, 1970 in Bloomfield, New Jersey, Brien attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he set a career record for field goals with 56, breaking the mark of 50 set by former Cincinnati Bengal Jim Breech. He was also Cal's all-time leading scorer with 288 points earning All-Pac 10 accolades twice. Brien also earnedarned Pac-10 All-Academic team his junior and senior seasons and held the record for highest career field goal percentage at 80% (56-70). Brien also holds a degree in political economies of industrial societies with a minor in conservation and resource studies.

As a Jet

Brien after missing a kick against the Steelers

Brien signed with the Jets in 2003, and was regarded as not having a huge leg, but fairly relaible, which Jets fans welcomed after enduring John Hall's 'will he, wont he?' kicks the previous few years.

However, the end of the 2004 season turned into a personal hell for Brien. In the final game against St. Louis, Brien missed a 53 yard kick in overtime, costing the Jets a victory, yet they squeaked into the playoffs.
Brien then missed a 33 yarder in the Wild Card game against San Diego, but did kick the winning field goal in overtime. Against the Steelers with the score tied at 17, Brien had a chance to win the game but his 47-yarder with 1:58 remaining hit the goal post. However, David Barrett's interception had the Jets in scoring position again. Then, in a bizarre decision by Herman Edwards, Chad Pennington took a kneel, losing a yard for the field goal attempt. Brien stepped up to kick 43-yarder to win it on the final play of regulation.
But the kick sailed far to the left, not even close. 'I tried to hit it a little harder because I was real surprised I didn't have the distance,' Brien said, referring to the 47-yarder. 'The second one I missed. The first one didn't go in.'
The Steelers won the game in overtime.

After the Jets

After a huge outpouring of anger (various parts of Brien's anatomy, including his head on a platter, appeared on sale on Ebay) in the aftermath of the defeat, Brien was unceremoniously dumped by the Jets. He signed for the Chicago Bears for the 2005 season, but after 3 games with a 25% field goal success rate, he was gone. Brien hasn't been in the NFL since.

Statistics

Regular season

Season

FG/FGA

FG Pct

1-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50+

Long

PAT

PAT Pct

Pts

2003

27/32

84.3

0/0

5/5

15/15

7/8

0/4

48

24/24

100

105

2004

24/29

82.3

0/0

9/10

4/6

10/11

1/2

53

33/34

97.1

105

Total

51/61

83.6

0/0

14/15

19/21

17/19

1/5

53

57/58

98.3

210

Playoffs

Season

FG/FGA

FG Pct

1-19

20-29

30-39

40-49

50+

Long

PAT

PAT Pct

Pts

2004

3/6

100

0/0

1/1

0/1

2/4

0/0

42

4/4

100

13

Total

3/6

100

0/0

1/1

0/1

2/4

0/0

42

4/4

100

13

Personal

Brien is involved with a kicking website, selling a DVD where you too can learn to kick like him, for only $39.99.